It took 12 weeks of renovations to restore downtown Hinesville’s Zum Rosen Hof German restaurant after a fire gutted the interior, but as of yesterday the doors are open.
 The eatery was severely damaged the first week in December when a small fire broke out in the first floor bar area, causing heavy smoke and soot damage inside
the two-story structure.
“It took longer than we hoped, but we are so very happy to be open again,” said owner Anka Hinze.
Hinze said her customers have been eager for the restaurant to reopen.
“We have many customers in the military that tell us there is nowhere else around that offers the authentic cooked-to-order German food like we do,” she said.
She said her customers can expect the same menu along with the same family atmosphere they’ve become accustomed to.
Hinze said her old staff is returning and she’s hired a few new employees as well.
Sitting on top of their new bar is their new mascot Egon, named after 20th century Austrian Expressionist artist Egon Schiele, holding up the specialty menu that includes fresh-baked cakes and desserts.
“We are just so grateful to everyone who helped us out like the firefighters and county officials,” Hinze said.
Zum Rosen Hof is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday’s from 2-10 p.m.